THE BEER NUT: Barleycorn's brew-your-own in Natick closing its doors

After 20 years, Barleycorn's Craft Brew, a Natick and Massachusetts brewing institution, has announced it is closing.

Owner Dan Eng wrote on the company’s Facebook page that the business will close in May.

For those who don’t know, Barleycorn’s is a place where people could brew batches of their own beer. Eng provided numerous recipes for customers, or people could brew their own recipes.

Barleycorn’s also hosted professional brewers, such as legends Tod Mott of Tributary Brewing Company, and Dan Paquette, formerly of Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project, who would come in and lead groups of people through a night of brewing beer, and then leave recipes people could recreate.

“Our lease is expiring and a decision has been made to liquidate and conclude our operations of providing beer brewing and wine making services to the greater Boston community,” Eng wrote on Facebook. “It has been an extraordinary experience and a great run, with tremendous people and organizations.”

Normal operations will continue through the beginning of May. The last day to brew is April 16, and the last day to bottle will be April 30.

In other beer news, you'll soon be able to drink a brew from Fiddlehead Brewing Company, of Shelburne, Vermont, at some of our local establishments.

Beginning this week, Fiddlehead IPA, the brewery's flagship beer, will make its debut on draft at various bars throughout the Boston area.

The beer will be distributed by the Craft Collective, a wholesaler which helps smaller breweries sell and market their beers in the Boston area. Although the current plan calls for just the IPA, Fiddlehead Brewing Company brews a bunch of fabulous beers, including Second Fiddle Double IPA, and Hodad, a coconut porter. Hopefully some of these other beers will make their way to Massachusetts in the near future.

The Wachusett Brewing Company of Westminster is also releasing a new beer. Previously available on draft only, Wally will be canned and distributed throughout its market. Wally is an IPA brewed in the more modern New England style (i.e., cloudy and juicy). It’s Wachusett's best beer since the release of its Milk Stout several years ago.

Framingham's Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers has teamed with the British Beer Company to brew a special BBC-only beer to celebrate the restaurant chain’s 20th anniversary.

The 20th Anniversary Beer is an India pale lager, described as “an ultra-hoppy variation of JA’s Hoponious Union.”

The 20th Anniversary Beer will be available on draft only at all 14 British Beer Company locations beginning this week. The beer is expected to last on tap for one to two months only, and then it will be gone.

And finally, Narragansett, founded in 1890, is celebrating its return to brewing in Rhode Island with the release of a new IPA, It’s About Time.

“This beer marks a watershed moment in our long history, and it’s all thanks to you,” Narragansett said in a press release. “By believing in us and drinking your part, we have finally re-established brewing in Rhode Island for the first time in over three decades.”

It’s About Time, which will be made at the company's new Pawtucket brewery, is described as having an “old-school malt character” blended with a modern hop profile.

Norman Miller is a Daily News staff writer. Email him at nmiller@wickedlocal.com or call 508-626-3823. Check out the Beer Nut blog at blogs.wickedlocal.com/beernut. Follow him on Twitter @RealBeerNut and on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerBeerNut.